Elizabeth Jane Richardson

Elizabeth Jane Richardson was the daughter of Thomas Richardson of Standon. She was baptized on January 13, 1593. She was buried on June 22, 1630.

** Source: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

She was the eldest child of Thomas Richardson and Katherine Duxford. Elizabeth Richardson is my 12th great-aunt.

Elizabeth would go on to marry Francis Wyman on May 2, 1617, and together they had five children.

• Thomas (Baptized April 5, 1618)
• Francis (Baptized February 24, 1619)
• John (Baptized February 3, 1621)
• Richard (Baptized March 14, 1623)
• William (Baptized August 31, 1628 – Buried July 3, 1630)

** Sources, Boston Transcript. Volume 1, page 67: N.E.H.G. Reg. Volume 50, Page 45.

She was born and lived in West Mill her entire life.

This Elizabeth Richardson is not the same as the one who died on September 4, 1630 and was buried in Middlesex, England. Our Elizabeth died in Westmill, England, and was buried at St. Mary the Virgin in Westmill – St Albans, St Albans District, Hertfordshire, England.

So let’s talk about where she is from.

Standon is a historic village in Hertfordshire, located about 25 miles north of London. During Elizabeth’s lifetime, it was a rural agricultural community with a close connection to England’s broader economic, religious, and political transformations.

• Standon was a typical English parish village, with life centered around the parish church, which served as both a spiritual and social hub. Elizabeth would have been baptized, married, and buried in the church, as was customary.
• The economy of Standon was primarily agricultural. Farmers worked on open fields, practicing a mix of subsistence and market-oriented farming. Sheep grazing for wool production was particularly important in Hertfordshire, as the county was known for its contribution to England’s textile industry.
• Local markets and fairs were key parts of village life. Surplus goods—like wool, grain, and dairy—were sold at markets, often regulated by local lords or the crown.
• Most people in Standon lived in timber-framed cottages with thatched roofs. Homes were simple, often consisting of one or two rooms, with a hearth for cooking and heating.
• Life was communal, with extended families often living together. Tasks like cooking, weaving, and farming involved the entire household.

The Broader Historical Context (1593–1630)

1. Elizabethan England (1558–1603):
   • Elizabeth Jane Richardson was born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a period often referred to as England’s “Golden Age.” It was marked by relative political stability, economic growth, and cultural flourishing.
   • The Elizabethan Poor Laws, passed in 1601, began to formalize social welfare, reflecting the growing concern about poverty and vagrancy in rural areas like Standon.
2. The Early Stuart Period (1603–1630):
   • After Elizabeth I’s death in 1603, James I (James VI of Scotland) ascended the throne, ushering in the Stuart dynasty. James’s reign saw ongoing religious tension between Anglicans, Puritans, and Catholics.
   • Hertfordshire was largely Protestant by this time, aligned with the Church of England. However, Puritan influence was growing, especially in rural areas. Religious conformity was expected, and deviations (like Catholicism or nonconformist Protestantism) were met with suspicion or punishment.
   • The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a failed Catholic conspiracy to assassinate James I, heightened anti-Catholic sentiment across the country.
3. Economic and Agricultural Shifts:
   • The Enclosure Movement, which saw common lands privatized and fenced, was transforming rural life. While enclosure brought efficiency and productivity, it also displaced small farmers and contributed to rising poverty.
   • Farming in Standon would have been impacted by these changes, with some families thriving and others struggling to adapt.
4. Family and Gender Roles:
   • Women like Elizabeth Jane Richardson were expected to marry, bear children, and manage households. Marriage was typically arranged based on family alliances or economic considerations.
   • Childbirth was a frequent and dangerous part of women’s lives. The high infant and maternal mortality rates meant that families often had large numbers of children to ensure some survived to adulthood.

Daily Life and Customs

1. Religion:
   • Religion was central to daily life. The Anglican Church governed not just spiritual practices but also many aspects of social and civic life. Church attendance was mandatory, and major life events—like baptisms, weddings, and funerals—were conducted according to religious rites.
   • Elizabeth’s baptism in 1593 and burial in 1630 would have followed traditional Anglican practices, reflecting the deep integration of religion into the rhythms of life.
2. Food and Diet:
   • The diet of rural villagers like Elizabeth would have been simple but hearty. Bread, cheese, porridge, and ale were staples, supplemented by vegetables from gardens and occasionally meat or fish.
   • Seasonal cycles dictated food availability. In winter, preserved foods like salted meats and dried fruits sustained families.
3. Education:
   • Formal education was limited, especially for girls. Elizabeth would likely have been taught basic literacy and household skills by her family, as education for women was considered unnecessary beyond practical knowledge.
   • The Protestant emphasis on reading the Bible may have encouraged some level of literacy, but most women’s roles were centered on domestic work.

Major Events During Elizabeth’s Lifetime

1. Plague Outbreaks:
   • Elizabeth lived through repeated outbreaks of the bubonic plague, which struck England periodically throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Villages like Standon would have been vulnerable, as people had limited understanding of disease transmission.
2. The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648):
   • While largely centered in Europe, this devastating conflict between Catholic and Protestant powers influenced England. James I attempted to mediate peace, but the war heightened religious anxieties within the country.
3. Early Colonial Ventures:
   • The late 16th and early 17th centuries marked the beginning of English colonization efforts. In 1607, Jamestown was founded in Virginia, initiating England’s overseas empire. Though far removed from life in Standon, this era of exploration and expansion reflected the growing ambitions of Elizabethan and Stuart England.

End of Life

Elizabeth Jane Richardson’s burial on June 22, 1630, was likely conducted in the parish churchyard of Standon, in accordance with Anglican customs. Her death occurred just four years after the ascension of Charles I to the throne in 1625, a period of rising political tension that would later culminate in the English Civil War (1642–1651).

Legacy

Elizabeth’s life was shaped by the rhythms of rural village life, deeply influenced by the church, the land, and the family. Her experiences reflect the transition from the Elizabethan “Golden Age” to the uncertainties of early Stuart England, providing a window into the daily lives and challenges faced by ordinary people in 17th-century England.

If you’d like, I can help further explore religious practices, gender roles, or another aspect of life in her time!